Matthew 11:12 – “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and forceful people lay hold of it.”

Good morning, everyone!   I woke up this morning with hate in my heart!   I confess I hate the devil and his works!   Reading, praying, and meditating on God’s Word challenged me on multiple fronts and levels.  The accounts of Isaac and Jacob challenged and encouraged me.   The overriding theme was obedience and persistence.    Out of that condition and position, they received God’s overflowing blessing!

In Matthew, Jesus spoke about John the Baptist and the kingdom of God.   Matthew 11:12 is a challenging passage.  He said, “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and forceful people lay hold of it.”   There are many possible interpretations of this.

• Could it be that the misguided religiosity of the Pharisees was the violence or abuse of God’s true kingdom? 
• Could it be that the true kingdom of God is entered only by the persistent, forceful, unrelenting pursuit of it?
• Could it be that total commitment to Him and an unwillingness to be denied opens spiritual doors like nothing else?

It could be any or all of those and more.  In verse 17, Jesus said, “But wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”  One translation suggests that a proper rendering is “wisdom is shown to be right or verified by what it produces.”

Lest we think that we produce the kingdom by our own efforts, we need to hear Jesus in verses 28-30 (reading from v. 25 for context).   He said, “Come to Me…”   That is surrender and recognition of His Lordship, and it is complete trust.  “Come to Me, all who are worn out and burdened, and in Me, you will discover rest and peace!”

He continued, “Take My yoke (instructions and prescribed pathway) upon yourself, and I will give rest (vacation).  Learn of Me (become one with Me) and discover My true character, nature, and power.  In Me, you rest and discover you no longer have to struggle to be.  You become!”

The dual reality that I sensed the Lord speaking to me became clear.  Jesus was saying, “When you persistently press into Me, and once there, rest in that union with Me, just relax and rest!”    There is no relaxation in pressing in through our own efforts.   We find rest when we cease trying to perform.    It is then that we become!   Out of that new relationship, you live His life and manifest Him!

What a place to attain!   In Him, like Isaac, who obeyed and was in the place of promise during a famine, he harvested a hundredfold return.  God’s provisions are without equal.   Let us press in and let Jesus be Jesus in and through us.

I pray your day will be wonderful and your way prosperous in Jesus!